Thanks again!
I'll keep far away from the paper...and look for something with Aida cloth.
I was in a second hand shop yesterday and found someone's Home is where the heart is counted cross stitch project. It was really lovely. May have to go back and rescue it. It was in a wooden frame that looked like it was from the fifties or so.
lot2do
PS Thanks for the tip on washing it afterwards too. I wouldn't have known to do that.